Botany:
· Twining perennial herbs, height reaching 1 m. Nodes prominent, stem reddish, glabrous, spineless.
· Leaves: alternate; ovate to oblong shape, 5-10 cm long, 3 cm wide, midrib violet-red colored, upper surface of leaf with inverted "V" shaped spot. Stipules sheathing on the stem just below the petioles, membranaceous, glabrous with no cilia at the margin. (Other polygonum spp. have ciliated membranaceous stipules.)
· Flowers: small, white or light reddish in color, arranged in heads (capitate); inflorescence axillary. Calyx 5, enlarging when fruiting, transparent to white.
· Fruits: berries, globose in shape. Enclosed in the enlarged and fleshy calyx at maturity. Seeds small, black, fruits edible, sour tasting.

Distribution
In thickets and forests at medium and higher altitudes 1,200 to 2,000 meters throughout the Philippines.

Parts utilized:
· Entire plant.
· Collected the year round.
· Rinse, cut into pieces, sun-dry.

Properties
Cooling, mildly acidic.
Relieves gastrointestinal disorders, antipyretic, deobstruent, and anti-infectious.

Folkloric uses
· Decoction of dried material: Used for dysentery, gastroenteritis, bloody stool, indigestion, hepatitis, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis.
· Poultice of dried material for furuncle and abscesses.
· Decoction as external wash for dermatitis, eczema, pruritus.
· Poultice or decoction as external wash used for sprains, bruises, poisonous snake bites.

Availability
Wild-crafted.